Ask a Firefighter anything

490 Questions

Last Answer on June 29, 2022

How much protection do turnouts give you? If you put your arm into a small, isolated flame for a second will you be hurt? Is your gear like a powerful oven-mitt for your whole body? [I think oven mitts are really cool to use I pretend I'm a FF :)]

Asked by Robert over 11 years ago

Sometimes to much. Fire gear is fire resitive not fire proof but will ignite at high temps. The thing about it is that the gear allows us by its protection to work in hitemps. these temps will cause us to stay in unsafe temps at times.

1201 Votes

How long after the station alarm goes off can the truck leave the fire station? In some FDNY videos it looks like the lights go on and then like two minutes later the truck comes out.

Asked by Dse almost 12 years ago

60 secs 24/7/365

1198 Votes

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

I am interested in becoming a firefighter, i am 19 years old and graduated, only thing is i had surgery on my shoulder and i was wondering if that hinders me from becoming a firefighter.

Asked by Josh Sanders over 11 years ago

Did surgery correct the issue and is their any limitations from that surgery. Majority of Departments have a physical agility test and you can look up firefighter agility test for what is involved. Smaller departments may not. But as long as there is no complications than there should be no reason to not be considered. I do recommend getting your EMT it will put you one stap ahead of others.

1197 Votes

I don't know if you know much about VFD's but when a VFD sends out a page in my town, I think volunteers usually respond in private vehicles with blue lights. Who would drive the apparatus to the scene? How do they know if enough people are coming?

Asked by 123 over 11 years ago

Most volunteer departments have designated individuals that respond to get the apparatus. Each unit would mark up on the radio as responding, but there have been a time or two that I have heard of where someone had to go back and get the truck. My personal opinion is that all go to the station unless a unit is already enroute and no other equipment is needed.

1189 Votes

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When your a firefghter what dose black smoke mean

Asked by erica taylor almost 12 years ago

Incomplete combustion, Fire is not at its maximum potential

1183 Votes

I live in a city and always see other drivers tossing lit cigarette butts out of their car windows. Does this pose any sort of fire risk? Does a tossed cigarette butt have the potential to cause a house fire?

Asked by mm4884 over 11 years ago

The answer to that is yes. California is a prime example with the high fire danger they have especially this time of the year. The flung cigarette still is a hot ember when it is ejected. Beside the fact that it is a peice of litter that takes many years to break down in the environment.

1175 Votes

If you show up to a fire and the homeowner says that everyone is accounted for, can you decide to skip a search and go straight to attacking the fire? (If a search COULD be carried out without unusual danger, but you didn't want to waste time)

Asked by 42 over 11 years ago

If the homeowner is confident on his accountability then suppression would be your next action.

1172 Votes

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Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How much protection do turnouts give you? If you put your arm into a small, isolated flame for a second will you be hurt? Is your gear like a powerful oven-mitt for your whole body? [I think oven mitts are really cool to use I pretend I'm a FF :)]

How long after the station alarm goes off can the truck leave the fire station? In some FDNY videos it looks like the lights go on and then like two minutes later the truck comes out.

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

I am interested in becoming a firefighter, i am 19 years old and graduated, only thing is i had surgery on my shoulder and i was wondering if that hinders me from becoming a firefighter.

I don't know if you know much about VFD's but when a VFD sends out a page in my town, I think volunteers usually respond in private vehicles with blue lights. Who would drive the apparatus to the scene? How do they know if enough people are coming?

Also on Jobstr...

When your a firefghter what dose black smoke mean

I live in a city and always see other drivers tossing lit cigarette butts out of their car windows. Does this pose any sort of fire risk? Does a tossed cigarette butt have the potential to cause a house fire?

If you show up to a fire and the homeowner says that everyone is accounted for, can you decide to skip a search and go straight to attacking the fire? (If a search COULD be carried out without unusual danger, but you didn't want to waste time)

Firefighter

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How much protection do turnouts give you? If you put your arm into a small, isolated flame for a second will you be hurt? Is your gear like a powerful oven-mitt for your whole body? [I think oven mitts are really cool to use I pretend I'm a FF :)]

How long after the station alarm goes off can the truck leave the fire station? In some FDNY videos it looks like the lights go on and then like two minutes later the truck comes out.

So you wanna be a Firefighter?

I am interested in becoming a firefighter, i am 19 years old and graduated, only thing is i had surgery on my shoulder and i was wondering if that hinders me from becoming a firefighter.

I don't know if you know much about VFD's but when a VFD sends out a page in my town, I think volunteers usually respond in private vehicles with blue lights. Who would drive the apparatus to the scene? How do they know if enough people are coming?

Also on Jobstr...

When your a firefghter what dose black smoke mean

I live in a city and always see other drivers tossing lit cigarette butts out of their car windows. Does this pose any sort of fire risk? Does a tossed cigarette butt have the potential to cause a house fire?

If you show up to a fire and the homeowner says that everyone is accounted for, can you decide to skip a search and go straight to attacking the fire? (If a search COULD be carried out without unusual danger, but you didn't want to waste time)

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